Officer Memorial

Deputy Sheriff William Lonnie Wadford, Jr.

March 8, 1979

On March 8, 1979 at approximately 1:00 AM Deputy Sheriff William L. Wadford, Jr. stopped at Club 16 located about two and one half miles east of Canton, Mississippi and parked near the front door of the club while he check to be sure the business was observing the 1:00 AM closing time laws. While he was inside a lone white male was observed to take a gun from the deputies patrol car, and get in another vehicle and proceed east on Highway 16.

Deputy Wadford was notified and discovered a .357 revolver missing. Given the description of the suspect car, he and Jackie Mathews, owner of Club 16 left in the Deputy's patrol car in an attempt to catch up with the suspect. Deputy Wadford called the Canton Police Department and requested them to give the suspect vehicle description to any law enforcement units around the Leake/Madison County line on Highway 16.

Approximately six miles east of Club 16 Wadford and Mathews came up behind a vehicle matching the description they had been given and attempted to stop it. The vehicle failed to stop for over a mile, then pulled to the right shoulder of the roadway. As Deputy Wadford approached the white male in the suspect vehicle, the white male fired four shots, all hitting the Deputy in the upper chest. Mr. Mathews fired at the suspect vehicle with a shotgun from Deputy Wadfords patrol car and knocked the back window out of the vehicle as it left the scene. Mr. Mathews then used the patrol car radio to call for help.

A few miles farther east Mississippi State Highway Patrolman Larry Greer heard the report of the shooting and set up a roadblock. The first car to approach drove up to the roadblock and the white male driver immediately raised a pistol and shot Greer twice. Patrolman Greer fell to the highway as the suspect sped off. Patrolman Greer was found lying in the highway by two passing motorists, one a medical doctor. Dr. Prater was able to stabilize Greer while Mr. Lofton drove them to the hospital in the patrol car.

At approximately 2:25 AM Mississippi Highway Patrolman Johnny Frank Smith spotted a vehicle matching the suspects description on Highway 35 in Leake County. Upon further investigation he observed the rear window was shattered and requested backup. The responding units followed the vehicle until it pulled into a vacant store parking lot and the driver jumped out and began running. The officers were able to apprehend the suspect without further incident and identify him as George G. Mansell. He is currently still serving time.

Patrolman Greer recovered from his wounds.

Deputy Wadford was survived by his wife Dorothy Sue Wadford and one son, William Glenn Wadford age 17.

Sheriff Toby Trowbridge, Jr.